Just moments before the UFC 216 preliminary card was set to begin on UFC Fight Pass, a heavyweight bout between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum and Derrick Lewis had been pulled from the card.
UFC color commentator Jon Anik tweeted out the following:
Fabricio Werdum v. Derrick Lewis is off due to an injury to one of the fighters. First fight now 4PM PT. #UFC216
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) October 7, 2017
Fightful.com learned shortly before UFC 216 that Derrick Lewis aggravated his previous back injury and was unable to make it to fight night.
This is the second fight in as many days to be pulled from the UFC 216 card, as a lightweight bout between Nik Lentz and former Bellator MMA Lightweight Champion Will Brooks was canceled after Lentz fell ill prior to the weigh-in.
This didn't last, however. Walt Harris grabbed the brass ring and a giant opportunity. He passed on his fight with Mark Godbeer on tonight's show and accepted a fight with Werdum.
UFC 216 takes place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
